Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-07-31
STEUBENNILLE.

S,sril1 Correspondence gf it sun tGg Register.
The principal, in fact the only topic of
conversation in this vicinity is the BAKE
murder trial, in progress at New Cumher-
Land So much interest is manifested IN
il that all other subjects are land aside.
The testimony that Baker himself gave
wa discussed on all hands, and II only
excited surprise and wonder that the man
,yould attempt to iOist sucn a tale OF on
the iury and public in the face OF the CIR
cumstauces a. already brought to light.
The story is an ingentOusly contrlYed one,
and it's conception and delivery SHOWS
that Baker is possessed of more than aver
aye intelligence and has also had good
ronchinu. Baker liked To talk, hau
too much confidence in his powers OF per
sussion. AZ he evidently believed he could
convince the public by the use OF his pow
ers of persuasion that he was innocent.
HIS story WAS evidently prepared and he
commenced TO fire il of Immediately ON
th. murder being discovered. IL was the
same story as regarded the main points,
but always varied in some particular. In
E,,t the evidence fails 10 show where he
told the same story. For instance, IN
detailing the transaction with the three
men. wherein the lease of TN" corner lot
WAS accomplished, Baker at one time
said that lie and Mrs. MCWha made
the bargain and that in change Tor the 500
bill the old lady displayed u large roll OF
money aud the men came back at night
and murdered both women to gain posses
si,r of IL. orlip he said that he and his
wife made the bargain; that the men "Iier-
ed the 500 dollar bill, and that he was
going TO change it, when his wife inter
nosed and said she thought her mother
could change il, and that she took the blll,
went into the house, returned with the
$40 and handed it to the men; III still an
other instance Baker declared that he hun
self changed the bill. In regard TO the
visit of Mrs. Swrarlngen and Mrs. Brown
he first claimed that he and his wlie were
in the orchard At the time, again that he
and his wife were in the sitting room and
still again that he was III the Kitchen, ami
that il was Mrs. McWha who shut the
on them, Oucr surprising them 10 he
paddles and again that they were men to
see about renting the stable ana she INA
not want TO he bothered with them. All
these things Baker, III his new story, liatly
denies. but his denial will avail him not,
for The conversations were held with rcpd-
table people who have testified to them
and their testimony will stand n IA munu-
mcrt to crush out the late story of Baker.
Baker also fatty denies that lie ever
played poker in Steubenville. The check
of this statement IL apparent when 1t Is
known that twelve to fifteen witnesses
can he produced in thirty minutes who will
he qualified that Baker played poker not
only once, but 4 number Of times in this
CITY. and that he did some very crooked
business at that. Sam Rllstuu, Bakers
main witness, positively asserted in his
testimony Friday afternoon that he hHG
not told anyone that he was not certain 1t
was Mrs. Baker he saw in the garden, when
in fact he did tell it to Il number OF the
leading citizens ot Sleuhcnyille whose word
will stand ~ solid rs a rock, lie also de-
MED that he said in Holidays Cove, after
having had an interview with Baker
through the boss of the Jail on the day the
iury was drawn, that he would bet 5000
that Baker would not be convicted, and 500
that this Jury Will disagree. II is under
stood that a number of the leading citizens
of the Cove will testify that he did say 50.
BY this it will he seen that when the pros
acutiou gcts through with Bakers main
witness there won't he enough left Of his
testimony To ill a thimble and he will be
in pretty good shape to be interviewed by
the next grand jury Of Hancock county.
There are many other points of variation IN
the testimony, but those given above are
sufficient to give the readers of the REG
ISTER an idea of how the case stands a. far
~ it has progressed.
Jesse KettlewoOd, 4 S~teubenville typo,
was married last Sunday evening tn Miss
Rachel Kepler. The ceremony took place
ut the residence of MIR. kettlewOOd's
father, in the FiIst ward, and was per.
formed by Rev. A. K. Chapman, OF the
First VI. T.. church.
Dennis Seaman and family will leave in
a short time for Melbourne, Australia,
where they will reside ion the future.
Miss Mollie McCauslcy, of Washington
City, is visiting Miss Mary Il. Orr, on
North Fourth street.
Misses Alice aud Jennie Buctard, who
crossed the ocean on a visit to the old
country some weeks ago, spent last sun
day in Stratlord, Ireland. They will be
in London about August 9TH.
Will Taggart was in Pittsburg on Thurs
day.
Rev. K. G.. holland and wife, Of Wells
burg, were in this city on Thursday visit
Ing friends.
Mrs, Al. Foster aud daughter are rusti-
eating at Suithiield.
Miss annie Murphy, Of Wheeling Island,
is the guest Of Miss Eva walker On Ross
street.
Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. Il. Patterson have re-
turned from Lake C]hatauqua.
Miss Georgia Mckinly is visiting her